Drier



o. B'UTZBACH Feb. 2 1926.

DRI ER Filed AugustZl, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2,1 1926.

UNITED' STATES PA'IENT oFFlcE.

OTTO BUTZBACH, OF'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE. INVINGIBLE BLOW PIPE r C0., .A` CORPORATION 02E' ILLINOIS.

DRIER.

Application filed August 21, 1922. Serial No. 583,102.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OTTO Buma-ACH.- a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of 5 Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to driers.

It will be explained as appliedto a laundry clothes drier.

Clothes driers employing a circulation of heated and dried air therethrough have been used heretofore. Ordinarily a rotary receptacle containing the clothes is enclosed in an loven-like casing and the heated air passes through the openwork walls of the receptacle continuously in the same direction. Steam pipes Within the casing and below the receptacle, and sometimes covered by wire screen, serve to heat the air as it flows through the casing.

Such driers are objectionable because it is necessary to supply an excessive amount of air and heat `to effect proper drying. The

clothes, for example, often may be sufficiently dryl in the vicinity of the air inlet, although too moist in the vicinity of the air outlet. Satisfactory drying may be produce only after a prolonged time so that 3*! the drier is inefficient. The close proximity of the heater and the relatively high temperature required, ordinarily in the neighborhood of 300' degrees Fahrenheit, raise the temperature of the receptacle and casing to such a degree that they are sources of danger and annoyance to the attendants, especially when applying and removing the clothes. The stationary screens soon become clogged with lint and are a continual source of an- 40 noyance and ineliiciency.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved drier. c i

Another object is to provide an improved rotary clothes drier.

Another object is to provide a drier which isv economical.

Another object is to provide a' drier which will give more uniform results.

Another object is to provide a drier which 5 will dry quickly and thoroughly.

Another object is to provide a drier without'thel customary outer housing for the receptacle.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through the drier.

Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and

Fig. 4y is a rear elevation with the air heater in section.

The drier has a rotatable closed receptacle, in the form of a substantially cylindrical drum-1 of sheet metal or other suitable material. This drum receives and holds the clothes during the drying process and, being closed except for the air passages hereinafter described, needs no outside casing. The circumferential wall of the drum may be formed with a number of longitudinal inwardly projecting ridges 2 which facilitate the tumbling of the clothes and the thorough application of the heated air thereto.

The end walls of drum 1 have rather large axial openings 3 and 4 therethrough, which alternately serve as air inlet and outlet ports, as will be hereinafter described. Drum 1 is rotatably supported by a suitable frame 5. The end uprights of frame 5 provide bearings for a pair of stud shafts 6. The inner ends of shafts 6 are fixed to annular open spiders 7 which are secured to the respective ends of the drum by suitable means, such as screws or bolts.'

The outer periphery of each spiderl?v is provided with teeth, making the same a gear wheel. A shaft 8 is journaled in the uprights of frame 5 and'has a pair of pinions 9 secured thereto. Pinions 9 engage spider gear wheels 7. A pinion 10 journaledin one of the uprights of frame 5 and engagi one of the pinions 9 rotates the receptac e. Pinion 10 is driven from a lsuitable source of power, such as a motor.

Adjacent the rim of the opening through each spider 7 a lianged ring 13 1s secured by screws or lbolts. spectively, slidably itthe :flanges in rings 13 at opposite ends of the drum.' These hoods may be made of sheet metal. Stud shafts 6 pass through suitable openings in the hoods. An air pipe 16 connects with hood 14 and an air pipe 17 connects with Hoods 14; and 15, re-J hood 15. The other ends of pipes 16 and 17 are connected to opposite sides of an air valve casing 18. A vent or exhaust pipe 19 is also connected to casing 18. Opposite vent 19 an air inlet pipe `2O communicates with casing 18. Inlet 20 is connected to a suitable source of air supply such as a rotary blower 25. An air heater 26, equipped with steam coils, or other suitable heating means, heats the air forced by blower 25 into inlet 20. The blowe-rniay be driven by a suitable source of power throughl a pnl-- ley 27.

A pivoted air control valve 28 is within casing 18. Thisvalve is so related to the various pipes 16, 17, 19 and 20 that it may be oscillated to open and close the openings thereto in various combinations. Thus in one position valve 28 provides communication between pipes 2O and 17 and between pipes 16 and 19, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the valve the air from blower 25 passes in the direction ofrthe arrows through pipes 20 and 17, druni 1 from left to right, pipes 16 and 19 to the atmosphere. Moving valve 28 approximately a sixth of a revolution in a clockwise direction serves to close vent or outlet 19 'and open both pipes 16 and 17 to inlet 20. In this position of the valve air is forced into the drum from opposite directions and, since the outlet or vent is closed, a pressure is created within the drum. When valve 28 is moved still fur; ther in a clockwise direction p1pe 16 is opened to inlet 20 and pipe 17 1s opened to vent .19. In this position of the valve the air Hows in a direction opposite to the arrows through pipes 20 and 16, drum 1 from right to left and pipes 17 and 19 tothe atmosphere. As valve 28 moves backward in an anti-clockwise direction the conditions just described are reversed.. Y r 1 Accordingly the oscillation of valve 28 alternately connects the -air passages associated with the receptacle, to the source of air supply and to the vent, and provides an intermediate interval of pressure within the receptacle. Consequently air is forced through the receptacle first in' one direction, then compressed and then caused to flow in the opposite direction.

The` air control valve Ais automatically oscillated to bring about the changing air. conditions hereinbefore described. Valve 28 has a lever 30 connected to its pivot. Lever 30- is connected to one end of a link 31. The other end of link 31 is connected to an arm of a lever 32, which is pivotally connected to the frame on a pivot Levers 30 and 32 have a series of holes therein so that link 31 may be adjustably positioned to vary the throw of valve 28. Lever 32 is eccentrically connected to a gear VWheel 34 which meshes with a Worm 35.

driven by a suitable source of power by a belt over pulley 37.

The rotation of pulley 37 and worin 3,5 oscilla-tes lever 32 about its pivot The oscillation oflever 32 oscillates valve 28 through link 31 and lever 30, causing the valve to control the air conditions within the receptacle as hereinbefore set forth.

In order to divide the drinn into separate compartments for receiving and holding different batches of clothes partitions 40, 41 and 42 may be provided. These partitions are formed of sheet metal and screen. Partition 40 has its sheet metal portion 43 at the center and its screen portion 44 around the outside. Partitfin- 41 has the arrangement reversed, its sheet metal portion 43 being at the outside and its screen portion at the center. Partition 42 is similar to to partition 40. Thus the air, in its passage through the receptacle, is caused to travel a tortuous course, alternately toward the center and the circumferential surface. This movement of the air assists the tuinbling action of the drum in the thorough, rapid and uniform drying of the clothes. Suitable doors 45 serve to provide `access to the receptacle compartments.

In operation the heated and dried air is forced into the receptacle under a relatively greater pressure than heretofore. Two or three ounces of pressure have been foundto give satisfactory results. The air, when the vent is open, thus passes througlrthe receptacle, in one direction or the other, at considerable velocity. Drying is thereby facilitated. When the vent is closed the air pressure created within the receptacle inaterially assists in the extraction of moisture. It has been found that with this drier the temperature of the air need be raised only to around 150 degrees'Fahrenheit to give good results. This temperature is too low to cause injury or inconvenience to attendants and is maintained more easily and cheaply than the higher temperatures heretofore, ordinarily, employed. Having described my invention What I claim as new and desire cto secure by Letters Patent, iszi 1.- -A drier comprising a receptacle which may be opened to receive material to be dried and 'thereafter closed, a valve casing adapted for connection to a sourceof air supply, a pair of pipes interconnecting the tacle, a vent in the casing, and a valve in the casing and associated with the pipes and vent so -that. air may be forced in opposite directions throughthe receptacle or confined therein.

2. A drier comprising a receptacle for holding material to be dried, a pair of pipes communicating with opposite ends of the receptacle, a valve easing for connection to a source of air supply and both pipes and having a vent, and a valve in the casing and operable to open either pipe to the source and the other to the vent or to #open both pipes tothe source and close the vent. I

3. A -drier comprising a receptacle for holding material to be dried, a pair of pipes communicating with opposite ends ofthe receptacle, a valve casing for connectionto a source ofv air supply and both 'pipes and having a vent, a valve in the casing and operable to open either pipe to the source and the other to the vent or to open both 'pipes to the source and close the vent, and a heater for heating the air delivered by the source.

4. A drier comprising a receptacle for4 holding articles to be dried, a pair of air passages communicating with the receptacle, an air supply pipe for connection to a source of air supply, means for automatically and alternately' opening one ofthe passages to the supply pipe and venting the other passage, and a blower connected to the air supply pipe, and a heater for heating and drying the air delivered bythe blower.

holding material to be dried, a pair of pipes communicating with opposite ends of the receptacle, a valve casing for connection to a source of air supply and both pipes and hav- -inv a vent, a 'valve in the casing and oper able -to open either pipe to the source andv the other to the vent or to open both pipes to the source and close the vent, and partitions in the vreceptacle to divide the same into compartments and cause the air to^pass therethrough over a tortuouspath. Y

6. A clothes drier comprising a rotatable *receptacle for receiving and holding the clothes, Ya valve casing, an air inlet pipe communicating with the valve casing, an air outlet pipe communicating withthe valve cashing, a pair of air passages interconnectingt-he valvecasing and opposite ends of the receptacle, a valve within the valve casing and movable `to direct air from the inlet pipe through the passages and receptacle to lthe outlet alternatelyin opposite directions and also to close the outletv pipe with both 4and to said source of air supply, and means for automatically and alternately opening one of the passages to the supply pipe and the other passage to a vent or o ening both passages to the supply pipe an closing the vent to roduce an air pressure withiny the receptac e.

8. A drier comprisingI a rotatablereceptacle for receiving articles. to be dried, a pair of air' passages communicating with the receptacle, a supply pipe for connection tok a source of a1r supply, a vent passage, a valve connecting sald passages with the supply pipe and acting to open both air passages tothe supply pipe or either air passage to the supply` pipe and the other air passage to ,the 'vent passage, and means acting automatically to operate the valve. 5. A drier comprising a receptacle for 9. A drier comprising a receptacle mounted for rotation and for containing material to be dried, a pair of passages communicating to opposite ends of the receptmaclefavent passage,A and a .valvel for connecting 'said passages and vent passage 'to a source of air under pressurefsaid valve being operable to open either pipe to the source of airt and the other pipe to the vent passage.

10. A drier comprisin la receptacle 4mounted for rotation and a apted to contain material. to be dried, a pair of passages communicatmgwith opposite ends of the receptacle, a vent passage, a valve for connection Y to alsource of air supply under pressure and to said passages and vent passage, said valve being operable to open either pipe to the source of air and the other pipe to the tacle and a' controller operated from said In' testimony whereof Ik hereunto subvent passage, means for rotating the recep- Y 

